Spider lily

The Spider lily has fragrant, white cup-shaped flowers with longer, stellate outer petals that give it a 'spidery' appearance. It is also known as the Poison Bulb due to its high toxicity and use as an antidote to poisonous animal bites and consumption. Other common names include: Bakong (Philippines), Bakung (Indonesia), Lautalotalo (Samoa), Viavia (Fiji), Piga-palayi (Guam), Hama-omoto (Japan), and Wen zhu lan (China),

There are numerous species of Spider lily affecting the color and flower structure. In Hawai'i, there is even one species named the "Queen Emma Lily" after Her Royal Highness. However, whether this red-colored Spider lily is still in existence, has not been definitively identified.

The Spider lily grows from a bulb. It has long tapered green leaves that can grow up to 2' long. The flowers rise like a canopy above the drooping leaves on tall stalks. Each flower has 6 symmetrical long thin petals that grow in groups of a dozen or more spidery shaped flowers. The flowers can be white, red, or purple-rose colored with delicate colored pistils.

Spider lily blooms appear in spring and summer. The plant prefers deep, well-drained fertile soil in partial shade or full sun. They are lightly fragrant, especially before sunrise and after sunset.

Traditional Cultural and Medicinal Usages

In traditions beyond Hawai'i, some plant usages are:

• Warmed, poulticed leaves as an emollient, for sprains and rheumatism; juice for earaches (India)
• Leaves as insect repellent (Bangladesh)
• Leaves and roots for pain relief (Malaysia)
• Plant contains cytotoxic alkaloids with antibacterial properties. Bulb used as an antidote to treat poisoning by organic matter